Spotlight Article:

The Unexpected Energy Benefits of Mechanically Vented Crawl Spaces

The debate on how best to treat crawl spaces has gone on for decades, and the building codes regulating crawl space design have constantly evolved. For a long time the entrenched thinking was to rely ...

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July 01, 1996

The heat wave in Chicago last summer created a great deal of human discomfort and, by many estimates, caused over 500 deaths in three days. The overwhelming majority of these deaths occurred in buildings with indoor conditions that were reported as stifling. [continue reading]

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March 01, 1996

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November 01, 1995

Powered attic ventilators, already suspected of using more energy than they save, can also create excess moisture, structural problems, discomfort, and combustion safety problems for home occupants, according to a recent study. [continue reading]

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March 01, 1995

Icicles and ice dams form at the eaves of some roofs in cold regions. Water that ponds behind ice dams may leak into the building since most steep roofs are configured to shed water, not hold back standing water. [continue reading]

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July 01, 1994

While we in the energy conservation business have long been aware of the need for fresh air in a dwelling, we are just beginning to realize how vital it is to assess the quantity and quality of that air. [continue reading]

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July 01, 1993

As part of its new low-income weatherization program for manufactured housing, the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) is requiring mechanical ventilation in dwellings that receive other standard measures despite the fact that there's no mechanical venting requirement for retrofits of low-income, site-built housing. [continue reading]